Sagasavings Avis 

Tried to open an immediate access savings account. I've had accounts with Saga for years but in trying to open a new account, I almost lost the will to live. Bear in mind Saga are targeting 'older' people, the account opening process is so complicated and time consuming, something I don't want. I've opened lots of savings accounts with other banks/building societies with minimal fuss but I've never been asked to make a video of myself and upload pics of my driving license before, especially as I'm an existing customer. Opened an account with a different bank instead, marginally less interest but a whole lot easier!

I've recently opened the 4.5% easy access saving account.
Its not as slick as some of these modern apps but I was able to onboard without issue.

Opened the account very easily. So far so good.

I am a new customer to Saga Savings, backed by NatWest, which currently pays a market-leading interest rate for instant access savings. I had no problems registering and applying to open an account. The account is blissfully simple to operate and offers genuinely instant access, even at weekends: though there is a withdrawal limit of £20k per day. I have not yet needed to contact the helpline.

new account backed by Natwest looks good - but is a trap. Once you've opened it there is no access to the new versions with higher rates - basically a kicking for existing customers. There's no workaround for this and raising a complaint resulted in a reply which can be summarised as 'tough, get lost'.

find somewhere else for money.

The most difficult company to work with, couldn’t get through the id, tried over two days, gave up in the end.

I have also tried to open an easy access saver and It’s definitely more trouble than it’s worth. I applied, was then told to upload my ID and was then told that this hadn’t worked, so would need to do this again. Based on this experience and the other reviews, I won’t bother.

I have opened a number of accounts with different banks over the past few years and I have never had to go through such a long process. My applications have usually been approved in minutes.

This bank is bogus so stay away. Can’t even open an account efficiently.

I share the views from other frustrated people trying to open their perversely named Easy Access Savings Account. Expected to record a video of me whilst also uploading, both sides of a drivers license and my passport and the complex QR code process involved, only to get an error message. Easier to go elsewhere with less neurotic security checks.

Total waste of time.

I applied for a Saga Savings account and completed the application process, only to receive an email saying that they were unable to open an account for me. No reason was provided, and the email stated that they would not give any further information about the decision.

I have an excellent credit history and successfully hold accounts with other UK banks, so this unexplained rejection was very disappointing. If there are additional eligibility criteria or checks that can result in an automatic rejection, customers should be made aware before spending time applying.

A very frustrating experience.

web sign up only then it cant open camera to take picture of licence.
useless gave up

So far so good, easy to open, easy to transfer money in and out. I have tested with a few smaller sums before putting in a larger amount. Also tested getting money out to my nominated account, all straightforward but still work online so familiar with the processes. As a straight forward, high interest savings account, it's the highest rate without catches I could find after my Chase one's booster rate expired after a year.

I've just received a final email from Saga after an ongoing issue which started a couple of months ago.
After an Internet search for an instant access cash ISA, I was led to Saga.
After lots of security checks including sending photos of my driving licence and a video of me, the account opened.
At this point I transferred over £15500.
As it was still not showing after a week or so, I rang Saga to see what was happening.
After over an hour trying to get through - cut off 3 times in the process - I was eventually told to ring Natwest.
This took a similar length of time to speak with someone who then directed me back to Saga!
A few days later, the money appeared which showed, at the top, "Easy Access Saver" whilst, next to my balance, it clearly showed "Cash ISA."
I rang Saga again for clarification who, once I finally got to speak to someone, told me it wasn't an ISA and Saga don't offer them. The account was with Natwest.
I contacted Natwest who confirmed this - despite alm the log on details being with Saga , and that tfe account indeed was NOT an ISA.
Fortunately, I discovered this fairly quickly as I would have incurred an unnecessary tax bill for several hundred pounds if I'd left the money where it was.
I intended to top it up the next month and then open another one for my wif yo utilise our ISA allowances.
Natwest again told me to raise a complaint with Saga as it was nothing to do with them.
This I did. After several emails being exchanged, Saga have abdicated all responsibility despite their clear advert and Internet link; the extensive security normally associated with ISA's; and it clearly showing on the account as an ISA.
It then took them over a week to return my money "for security reasons."
BEWARE OF SAGA before you trust them with your money.

Been with you for years and been happy.

You don't have an app which is very old fashioned in 2026

Your rates have been good and easy and fast to move money in the browser

However, I am trying to open another account and you want me to do a video. I cannot get it to work and there is a lot of work to open a new account when I am already with you

I had read the reviews on how difficult it was for people to open a very good & well paying easy access a/c. I had absolutely no problem following the instructions, verifying my identity, my security and the security codes lasted for 5 minutes which was plenty of time to input this in your phone. It was easy and quick and once I applied Saga gave me an confirmation email within 24 hours. Very easy to add and withdraw money. I am glad I ignored the reviews as this is a brilliant account for people wishing to access their money at a great rate.

After hours trying to open a savings account with saga. I finally managed it. But if you want to pay money in or withdraw you have to navigate a code by text only giving 30 seconds to retrieve and put the code in.
It's impossible!!!!! So I've decided to put my money elsewhere and close the account.

Tried to set up an account. Got to end and had to read terms and conditions. Lost the screen by navigating away.
Contacted the call centre, got told it was still possible to resume and sent a link to get back. Then proceeded to have to submit ID. This involves a video and a copy of driving licence or similar. Not usually a problem. Could not get video to connect to my phone. Back to call centre. Changed phone settings. Still no progress. Given further advice went through it to the letter, this got me to a screen saying to wait but nothing happened. My smartphone is a popular brand and newish. I am ok with using all the Apps etc. Still not able to proceed. Felt a failure but also annoyed at wasting so much time. They are supposed to be easy to set up an account with!!

Trying to set up a SAGA savings account - they send you a code which expires so quickly I found it practically impossible to do. After ringing them and starting again I eventually got in. But SAGA want all sorts of details which took ages to provide and then then they wanted to make a short video of me. It was at this point I gave up and I will put my quite large amount of money into somewhere else, more user friendly. I would not recommend SAGA savings to anyone. They show high interest numbers but almost impossible to set up an account.

I have had a very disappointing experience with Saga Savings while dealing with my late father’s estate. As executor, I provided a grant of probate and clear written instructions to transfer funds to the sole beneficiary (his widow), which all other banks I've needed to deal with (both high street and online) have done without issue. Saga refused outright, insisting they would only pay into an account in my name, even though this meant either unnecessarily mixing estate money with my personal funds or a time consuming visit to the bank to open a temporary executor account. They would not show any flexibility, simply repeating “policy”, and would not properly consider reasonable alternatives. The situation was made worse because Saga does not support APS for inherited ISAs, despite my mother already holding an ISA with them. What should have been a straightforward bereavement process became stressful, time-consuming and upsetting at an already difficult time. I would not recommend them based on how rigid and unhelpful they have been.

My mother's savings were trapped in Saga Savings for three years because she had Alzheimers and they wouldn't accept our power of attorney. She died three months ago and they still won't release the funds to us. Every time I contact them they have another excuse to introduce delay. Today I asked to raise a formal complain and apparently I can expect it to take two weeks to get a response, which I am confident will contain an excuse for another delay.

I'm at my wits end. It really feels like they've simply stolen my mother's savings and have no intention of giving it back.

This is how they treat older customers like my mother and bereaved relatives like me. They are despicable.